SEMLS members who are interested in participating in the Element K program should complete this form so we can determine the number of "keys" that we must purchase.
Don't miss an opportunity to see what other ideas you can find and share with your colleagues for this year's summer reading theme on April 10 from 10-1 at SEMLS.
The paper copy of the CE Calendar - Summer 2007 is on it's way to you. Full workshop descriptions are now available. Please send us your comments regarding the new format to ce@semls.org.
SEMLS Support E-mail Addresses
Need immediate assistance from SEMLS?
Sending an e-mail directly to a SEMLS staff person may not be the best way to get a quick response because that person may be on the road or on vacation. To ensure that your message gets to a staff member right away, use one of our support e-mail addresses below.
delivery@semls.org – Use this e-mail address to report delivery problems or to report a library closing that will require a stop or change in delivery.
ce@semls.org – Use this e-mail for any registration questions or to cancel participation in a class.
helpdesk@semls.org – Use this e-mail for any database troubleshooting or access questions, including IP updates.
info@myowncafe.org – Use this e-mail address for any My Own Cafe questions or to request admin status for a teen volunteer.
semls@semls.org – Use this e-mail for any other general questions.
As always, you can also contact us by phone at 877-923-3531 (members only) or 508-923-3531.
What's Next: New Technologies to Help Build Your Library's Sustainability
sponsored by the Gates Foundation with grant funds administered by the MBLC. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, July 24 and repeated on Wednesday, July 25. Both are being held at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and will run from 10 am – 4 pm. In this full-day workshop, presented by Linda W. Braun, LEO: Librarians and Educators Online, you'll hear about technologies, test them out for yourself (during afternoon hands-on sessions) and come up with a plan to start using at least one new technology in your library the very next day. Registration deadline: July 9. Registration limit: 30 per session. For further information or to register go tohttp://www.wmrls.org/ce/gates07.html
The paper copy of the CE Calendar – Winter 2008 is on it's way to you. Full workshop descriptions are now available. Please send us your comments regarding the new format to ce@semls.org.
Applications are now being accepted for the New Director's Essentials Boot Camp to be held on May 20, at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA. The boot camp is intended for Directors of all types of libraries from across the Commonwealth who have less than two years experience in their present position. It will be a full day of discussion, inspirational speakers, information and resources that will be useful for directors in doing their jobs.
The application deadline is May 9th so act now. Limited housing is available for those who travel farthest to the boot camp so they can arrive early and ready to participate with full enthusiasm. An online application is available at http://www.cmrls.org/forms/director_essentials.htm.
This is part of a two-year federally funded LSTA grant awarded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to provide this training and a website for Massachusetts Directors in all library types.
The 2008 SEMLS Continuing Education Survey has now been posted. We greatly appreciate your comments and insights as we being planning workshops for FY 2009. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. The survey deadline is Saturday, June 14. We will keep you posted as to the results. Thank you!
SEMLS is now recording some of its presentations and making the audio available through its Web site.
SEMLS members can either stream the audio on the Web or can subscribe to the podcast and have the audio automatically downloaded to their computer whenever a new presentation is added.
The paper copy of the CE Calendar – Fall 2008 is on it's way to you. Full workshop descriptions are now available. SEMLS is now using EK Registration for workshop registrations. Please send us your comments to ce@semls.org.
The sandbox includes devices and equipment that many of our patrons and students use on a regular basis. Our hope is the sandbox will help library staff feel more comfortable with this technology and will stimulate discussion on programs and services the library can offer to reach out to these users.
Libraries may request the Sandbox as an "On the Road" workshop or may request a one-week loan of the Sandbox. The Sandbox includes:
Amazon Kindle
Flip Video Camera
iPod Touch
Logitech Headset (used with Skype)
Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii Fit
SanDisk MP3 Player
Sony Play Station 2 with Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) pads
David Lankes delivered a wonderful keynote address at the Joint Metrowest and SEMLS Annual Council of Members Meeting & Breakfast. If you could not make the meeting, or if you want to hear the keynote again, it is now available through the Participatory Librarianship Started Kit Web site.
As a SEMLS member, you are not just limited to CE classes offered by this region. You also can sign up for classes offered by any of the six regional library systems in Massachusetts.
It is now easier than ever to see what classes the other regional library systems are offering. EventKeeper has created a statewide calendar of upcoming CE classes for library staff. After going to the site, click on "All" and then click "Show Event List" to see upcoming classes offered by all six regional library systems.
You are very good at doing your job, but when that transitions to being the supervisor for other people doing your job it requires a whole new set of skills. Did anyone teach you how to be a supervisor?
On November 17 and December 1 at SEMLS from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. a series of two workshops on supervisory tips will be offered for member libraries.The workshop includes techniques, and solutions you need now to succeed as a supervisor. We will cover management techniques, handing communications, project planning and leadership skills. If you have any questions about what will be in the workshop contact Cheryl Bryan at SEMLS.
Join us at the Lakeville Public Library Thursday, January 14 for a full-day technology program on the mobile library.
More people than ever are using mobile devices to access the Internet and communicate. There is now a growing expectation that business, government and libraries meet the needs of these mobile users. Join us for a full-day technology conference where we will highlight developments in mobility and discuss ways libraries are meeting the needs of mobile users.
Tom Peters of TAP Information Services will deliver the keynote address, "Mobile Libraries: The Future of Libraries and of Our Sense of Place." Joe Murphy, Coordinator of Instruction & Technology at the Yale University Science Libraries, will provide an overview of ways libraries can reach out to mobile users in "Mobile Tech, Mobile Users, Mobile Libraries." Jill Erickson of the Falmouth Public Library will give an update on the early months of Falmouth's "Text-a-Librarian" service. SEMLS Assistant Administrator for Technology Kathy Lussier will explore e-Book options for libraries. The day will end with small group discussion as participants brainstorm ways to incorporate mobile technologies into library service.
Participants will also have an opportunity to try various gadgets from the SEMLS Technology Sandbox during the breaks. In addition to the Amazon Kindle 2, SEMLS plans to have a Sony Reader and Nook by January 14.
Participants should bring a brown bag lunch. SEMLS will provide drinks.
It's not just for school librarians! SEMLS has pulled together a series of afternoon classes that explore some new technology tools that can be used to support learning. Although the topics were selected based on their value to school librarians, staff from other types of libraries will enjoy learning about these tools as well! All classes will be held from 3 to 5 p.m.
On Thursday, January 28, SEMLS Assistant Administrator for Technology Kathy Lussier will explore digital storytelling with VoiceThread.
This service allows users to create stories around the same set of images or to add audio comments to stories created by others. It can even be used for training! Register
Social networking is a big part of the lives of our students, but can you use it in the classroom? On February 24, Kevin Murphy, Information Technology Teacher for Frontier Regional School, has created his own social network for his classroom using NING. See real examples of how NING is being used while reinforcing an understanding of blogs, discussions, embedding content and more. Register
Creating Web content appeals to a lot of young people on the Web, and many are ready to move beyond blogs, wikis and social networks. With Scratch, they can create interactive stories, animations, games, music and art using a simple programming language that requires no HTML or advanced programming skills. Holliston High School Library Teacher MK Eagle will teach participants how to use Scratch and discuss ways that it can be used in libraries.Register
Participate in the Handheld Librarian Conference with Your SEMLS Colleagues
The Handheld Librarian is a national two-day online conference for library professionals interested in mobile services by and for libraries. SEMSL will be registering for a site license for this conference. Come join us in the SEMLS conference room to watch the presentations and to discuss the information with your colleagues from the region Participants can sign up for one or two days of the conference Participants should bring a brown bag lunch. SEMLS will provide drinks .Register on the SEMLS Web site at http://bit.ly/78oIRQ.
The Office for Intellectual Freedom is partnering with ALTAFF to present a one-hour webinar in February for library trustees on the topic of controversial materials in library collections. The webinar, entitled “Controversial Materials in the Library: Supporting Intellectual Freedom in Your Community,” is intended to help trustees understand the basics of intellectual freedom in libraries. It will be presented February 17, 23, and 26....
